The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-04-28

| urged PRIDE for him to place her In 90
perple$ing and humiliattns . poeition.
He had been her devoted lover, her
constant attendant since they were
children. There was not Z plan for
his future, q hope OF his lie which he
had not oonfidsd to her. He had been
faithful. tender and kind, but he had
never asked her in 90 many words to
be his wife.
Until the past year she had never
doubted him; but now tho village was
full OF rumors concerning his atten-
tions to Madge Sullivan, q Chicago
beauty and helress, his sisters school
friend. Plying g:ances were cast up
on Kitty as she passed her girl friends
at places of amusement where her
rival received the lions share of her
lovers attentions. She felt that she
Was neglected, and Aunt Sabrina's
rude touch had torn open a raw and
quivering wound.
Ross walked homeward moody and
indignant. He had been treated with
gross disrespect, he meditated as he
went along. Kitty was assuming a
new and uncomfortable role, and to
punish her for her impertinence, much
as he enjoyed her cookery, he
should absent himself from her
THANKSGIVING dinner unless she made
him a suitable apology. That evon-
ing he relieved his feelings by dashin2
of some sarcastic verses, for which
he had special talent, and, inclosine
them in blank envelope, tossed them
into his desk, fully persuaded that tho
next morning would bring him a peni-
tent little note in Kitty's clear CHR.
ography.
But the note did not como; Kitty
was too deeply hurt to prefer any
flag OF truce. She went from room to
room, putting the curtains into more
graceful folds, rearrang,ng the books
and trifles on the mantel and tables,
and filling the great blue vases with
masses OF snowy chrysanthemums.
All the while she was listening and
waiting for the advent of her lover,
and chance step upon the walk sent
the blood surging to her cheek.
| The evening came at last. Ross had
not come, he would never come again,
something told her, and going to her
room she gave herself up to an agony
OF weeping. If Ross had cared, if there
had been the smallest remnant of the
old love remaining, he would have
been with her before this, anxious for
reconciliation, taking the blame upon
himself in his old frank, generous way.
No, it was as the neighbours said; an
other had supplanted her in his egard
If indeed he had ever cared for her as
she had so fondly imagined.
"Here's letter for you, Kitty"
called out Aunt Sabrina up the stair
way. "1t's from Chicago, and must be
something pretty important, l guess,
for it's got two stamps on it. Read
it quick, and let us know who it's
from"
She took the letter, thankful for tbs
dim light which concealed her tear
stained cheeks and swollen eyes, and
read as follows:-
CHICAGO, November &c, 18-.
MY Dear Cousin: have been trying to
think whom could call upon in the pres
ent emergency. and find there is no one but
your own kind, helpful, cheerful self. Your
| persistent refusals to visit me will not be
accepted now, for happen to know that
our ancient Aunt Sabr;na is at hand to
take your place at the household helm.
But to begin at the beginning.
! Coming out OF the theater few even.
ings since had tho i'll fortune to sprain my
ankle. The physician warns me that l
shall be close prisoner for several weeks,
and the thought appa!s me. Fred is at the
office the ivelong day, and the loneliness
OF my lot is unbearable. My only hope is
that you will be unmindiul enough Of your
cousinly duty to come, like the benefcent
fairy that you are, and save me from dying
! OF ennui."
Here followed several pages OF family
and personal matters. in which the reader
has no interest. The letter closed in this
wise taking your assent for granted l
inclose check to defray travelling expens.
es. Never mind about your wardrobe;
there will be time enough for that after you
are here. Don't wait to write, but tele-
graph me and start ct once: Your atfec.
Another day had passed, and think.
ing Kitty sufficiently punished Ross
adorned himself in his best, and leisur-
ly proceeded to the farmhouse. Aunt
Sabrina, meager and belligerent as
ever, answered his knock.
as Kitty at homer" he queried anx-
iously, something in the spinster's
appearance daunting him.
''She went to Chicago this morning
on the 8 o'clock train," CURLY an.
swered Aunt Sabrina, watching with
delighted eyes the effect of her COM
munication.
"Kitty gone! and without consult.
ing me?" gasped Ross, forgetting him
self in his astonishment.
"And why should she consult your
asked his tormentor. "What claim
have you on Kitty Payne, or what
right to control her movements"
Ross grew pale; he drew himself up
haughtily, and, without deigning ia
answer, secured Kitty's address and
beat precipitate retreat. He went
directly to his room, and seated at
his desk indited q manly and tender
epistle to the absent one, blaming
himself severely for tho misunder:
standing between them and making
her the formal offer of his hand and
heart.
"Forget end forgive ," he pleaded
tells me that without my little friend
and sweetheart life has no happiness
for me-"
He folded tho letter and slipped it
into the envelope. The entrance of a
younger brother disturbed him and
he tossed it unaddressed into his desk.
Had it but reached it's destination,
this letter with it's treightage of love
and penitence, what burden of pain
and grief would have been lifted from
the young girls sorrowful heart? How
many years ofhopeless waiting robbed
OF their dreary desolation? But it
was not to be. When in the dim morn.
ing light Ross went to his desk he
took up the envelope containing the
heartless verses written in his ange,
whose existence he had already for.
gotten. Addressing it in his bold,
free hand he sent the missive upon
it's way. A few hours later he had
said his 'tgood-byes'' to family and
friends and started for his new home
on the Dakota prairies.
] II